“a mad scientist version of Marxist thought that uses analysis of the structuration of our contemporary situation not as a means for emancipation and developing alternatives but to even more effectively exploit us.”

What interests me is the “us”. We, the “have nots” or we, the exploited, particularly in academic settings, inconcordantly by the measure of world standards and historical standards, are some of the wealthier people on the planet. This does not mean “we” cannot be “exploited” but the “we” must also note their distinct privilege as well.

]]>By: Bob Joneshttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-934
Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:51:05 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-934The answer to the problem of wealth distribution and economic prosperity for those who produce it requires a major first step —

DESTROY THE CORPORATIONS

There will always be great disaprity as long as they exist.

]]>By: jackzardhttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-933
Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:11:39 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-933a mad scientist version of Marxist thought that uses analysis of the structuration of our contemporary situation not as a means for emancipation and developing alternatives but to even more effectively exploit us.”

What interests me is the “us”. We, the “have nots” or we, the exploited, particularly in academic settings, inconcordantly by the measure of world standards and historical standards, are some of the wealthier people on the planet. This does not mean “we” cannot be “exploited” but the “we” must also note their distinct privilege as well.

]]>By: Charles brookshttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-932
Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:27:42 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-932Often we forget the little guy, the SMB, in our discussions of the comings and goings of the Internet marketing industry. Sure there are times like this when a report surfaces talking about their issues and concerns but, for the most part, we like to talk about big brands and how they do the Internet marketing thing well or not so well.
]]>By: adrianhttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-931
Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:24:33 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-931To Albion – yes, I know Moore does sometimes take significant liberties with facts for the sake of making a compelling movie. His documentary ethics aren’t nearly as good as they could be.

But if we think of him as a political polemicist, a kind of moviemaking op-ed pundit whose view is valuable because it’s one that doesn’t often get heard in such a wide forum (movie theaters across the country), then he does better than a lot of the other folks one could compare him to.

While their analysis is hardly exhaustive, the non-partisan fact-checking groups Politifact.com and Factcheck.org have both shown his views to be no less truthful than those of many other politicians and pundits. See Politifact’s file on Moore (comparing it to, say, Glenn Beck’s).

“Michael Moore is repeating his claim about foreclosures, telling Bloomberg News, for instance: ‘The number one cause of foreclosures in this country are medical bills. And the number one cause of bankruptcy are medical bills.’ Given its relevance to the health care debate, we checked it out. This time, Moore is on somewhat firmer ground [compared to a previous statement he made in 2004].

We found a 2008 study that interviewed homeowners going through foreclosure in four states and concluded: ‘Half of all respondents (49%) indicated that their foreclosure was caused in part by a medical problem.’ We have looked at the bankruptcy claim before, finding that a 2005 Harvard study found about half of bankruptcy filers cited medical expenses, illness or a medical-related job loss as the reason for filing. An updated version of the study says more than 60 percent of bankruptcies in 2007 ‘were driven by medical incidents.’ The methodology has been questioned. And ‘medical bills’ are just one aspect of ‘medical problems,’ some others being inability to work and earn an income, or being forced to care for a sick relative. So while we can’t endorse Moore’s current claims as proven, this time there is evidence to support what he says.”

The bottom line is that he’s no worse than most pundits, and the best studies of the “punditocracy” have shown that on issues like health care, corporate influence on the political process, and US militarism, right-wing voices get more air play (due to overrepresentation in conservative-funded think tanks, etc.) than those on the left. And he’s a good filmmaker.

]]>By: kvondhttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-930
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:16:18 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-930” On the other hand, it does result in an exploitive class dynamic, and the figures they present arguably show that the top 1% or so are the ones doing the exploiting, so one could argue that the rest (the 99% in any given country) are the exploited.”

Its just very prone to us vs them thinking. When we say 1%, we all want to get them! Why isn’t the more satisfying stat that 20% of the US pop owns 93% of the wealth? Is that the some of the academic complainers actually would hope to enter into that 20% group (I believe somewhre around 200 grand a year would do). I get the whole thing about the Plutocracy, but by and large its some pretty wealthy people (by comparison) complaining about some extremely wealthy people, talking about the great disparity. A lot of self-justifying rhetoric.

]]>By: Albion Moonlighthttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-929
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:29:01 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-929On the other hand, Moore never lets the truth get in the way of his story.
]]>By: adrianhttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-928
Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:49:18 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-928Yes, good point — I would have ended the sentence after “exploit.” It’s more that they (the investors the Citigroup report is addressing) would be exploiting the situation, taking advantage of it for their benefit, rather than exploiting anyone in particular. On the other hand, it does result in an exploitive class dynamic, and the figures they present arguably show that the top 1% or so are the ones doing the exploiting, so one could argue that the rest (the 99% in any given country) are the exploited. But there’s a big grey zone between those who share in the exploits and those who suffer as a result of them.
]]>By: kvondhttp://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-927
Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:35:09 +0000http://blog.uvm.edu/aivakhiv/2009/10/19/plutonomy-michael-moore-canada/#comment-927you tend to agree with Levi’s:

“a mad scientist version of Marxist thought that uses analysis of the structuration of our contemporary situation not as a means for emancipation and developing alternatives but to even more effectively exploit us.”

What interests me is the “us”. We, the “have nots” or we, the exploited, particularly in academic settings, inconcordantly by the measure of world standards and historical standards, are some of the wealthier people on the planet. This does not mean “we” cannot be “exploited” but the “we” must also note their distinct privilege as well.